Researchers Evaluate Common Cold Origins and Treatments

Most of us associate the signs of the common cold: sniffles, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and sore throat - with the chillier climes of fall and winter. In the midst of summer fun, it can be difficult to imagine being stricken with these tell-tale symptoms.

In truth, however, colds aren?t strictly confined to the winter months. In fact, they can strike any time of the year. Rather than climate or temperature, it?s our exposure to germs that leads to this type of illness. As children across the country prepare to return to school, doctors are gearing up for a tidal wave of common cold transmission.

The term ?common cold? is something of a misnomer. The illnesses that we describe with this phrase actually span a broad spectrum of more than 200 viruses. At the current juncture, most people respond to the onset of cold symptoms by buying over-the-counter medicine and stocking up on tissues. This is due to the fact that unlike bacterial infections, viruses can?t be ?cured? in the traditional sense of the term. Increasingly, though, people afflicted with cold symptoms are turning to non-traditional treatment methods to ease their discomfort.

Because of the widespread prevalence of cold viruses and the massive losses in workplace productivity and school attendance that they generate each year, researchers have continued to study the common cold. Over the last several years, several significant studies assessing the effectiveness of common cold treatments have been released. This week, we?ll take a look at the findings of three recent studies that have focused on this all-too-familiar ailment.

For Most, Vitamin C is Ineffective as a Treatment for the Common Cold

It seems like everyone you ask has their own strategy for avoiding the common cold. A particularly popular belief holds that vitamin C can help you avoid infection. As a result, sales of this supplement often soar during the winter months.

However, according to a recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Helsinki, vitamin C has virtually no power to prevent, cure, or lessen most strains of the viruses behind the common cold. In a large-scale study that analyzed the health data of over 11,000 patients, it was found that most average people did not benefit from vitamin C supplementation. Specifically, most of those who consistently consumed vitamin C supplements bore the same risk of contracting a cold virus as those who did not take the supplements.

The only category of study participants who did clearly benefit from vitamin C supplementation were the small group of individuals who were regularly under extreme physical duress, such as marathon runners or elite athletes. Among this group, vitamin C supplementation cut the risk of contracting the common cold by up to 50%.

Effectiveness of Echinacea as Common Cold Treatment, Prevention Demonstrated

The herb Echinacea is another popular holistic treatment for the common cold that has attained widespread popularity in recent years. However, unlike many other herbal concoctions whose efficacy and even safety have been called into question, the preventive and treatment impact of Echinacea appear to have been proven definitively in several recent studies.

The findings of a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut demonstrate strong support for Echinacea?s effectiveness as a common cold prevention method and treatment. According to the researchers, study participants who consistently took Echinacea supplements were 58% less likely to catch a cold virus than their counterparts who did not take the supplements. When the individuals taking Echinacea were infected with a cold, their symptoms disappeared, on average, 1.4 days sooner than they did among non-supplement-takers.

Despite Controversy, Most Researchers Agree That Zinc Lozenges Reduce Cold Duration

Over the last several years, several studies have reached seemingly contradictory conclusions on the subject of the effectiveness of zinc lozenges as a method of prevention or treatment for the common cold. In 1999, the FDA levied a massive fine on an herbal supplement company that it claimed was making promises about zinc?s cold-fighting properties that had not been substantiated by research.

However, several analyses of all of the research conducted on zinc supplementation to date have come to the conclusion that zinc lozenges do appear to have a significant impact in fighting the common cold. Although the preventive capabilities of zinc lozenges are limited or negligible at best, several prominent research groups have concluded that zinc lozenges reduce both the length and the intensity of the common cold in most otherwise-healthy adults. However, most feel that additional research is needed to determine the optimal dosage instructions for zinc supplementation.

Before treating your own common cold, check with your doctor to rule out any other possible causes of your symptoms. And be sure to check back each week for more of the breaking health news that matters to you!

New Research Findings Deliver Improved Symptom Control for Allergy Sufferers

Ranging in severity from barely noticeable sniffles to instantaneous death, allergy-related symptoms are one of the most commonly diagnosed health problems. Although most cases aren?t severe, they can significantly diminish quality of life for allergy sufferers.

Basically, most types of allergies are autoimmune disorders, in which the body misinterprets a foreign substance as a disease-producing germ and attacks it with the same type of defense mechanisms it would use to fight a common cold or a pathogen. For reasons that scientists can?t quite pin down, allergy problems have grown much more common in recent decades.

As a result, allergies have emerged as a major threat to public health. Labor statistics indicate that billions of dollars annually are lost as a result of allergy-related work absences and productivity losses. Not surprisingly, more research resources have now been devoted to the challenge of identifying possible causes and cures for allergies, as well. This week, we?ll take a look at the results of recent allergy research studies.

North Carolina Researchers Develop New Anti-Allergy Peanut

Peanut allergies are among the most potentially deadly form of allergic reaction. For unknown reasons, ingesting even tiny particles of peanuts can provoke severe anaphylactic shock in those allergic to the nut, a reaction that can result in death. As a result, people with peanut allergies must remain constantly vigilant against the possibility of accidentally consuming peanuts or peanut byproducts.

Researchers at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have developed a new form of the peanut that may significantly increase the menus of those with peanut allergies. A recent press release from the institution described a newly developed form of peanut in which the dangerous allergens that can provoke anaphylactic shock have been removed. Although studies assessing the safety of the new peanut have not yet been undertaken, this development could have significant implications for those with peanut allergies.

Cat Dander Found to Impact Virtually All Allergy Sufferers

According to a study conducted by researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, people with allergies tend to experience increased allergy symptoms after being exposed to cat hair and cat dander, even if they have not been previously diagnosed with cat allergies.

In other words, even if allergy sufferers are primarily sensitive to another type of allergen, such as pollen or mold, exposure to cat dander can often evoke an allergic response. The respiratory response was found to be more pronounced in allergy sufferers also affected by asthma or bronchial disorders.

The findings could impact pet ownership decisions among allergy sufferers, according to the researchers. They recommend that all allergy sufferers be evaluated for cat allergen sensitivity in order to allow for more effective control of their symptoms.

Simple Laundry Techniques May Significantly Reduce Symptom Intensity for Allergy Sufferers

The world can be a challenging place to navigate for allergy sufferers. Tiny food fragments, airborne particles that are invisible to the naked eye, and microscopic mold spores can all trigger a debilitating allergy attack. In order to avoid the appearance of severe symptoms, allergy sufferers have to remain constantly on guard against potential sources of danger, even those that may escape the notice of more casual observers.

In fact, the seemingly simple act of doing the laundry can prove to be problematic for allergy sufferers. In the wash, invisible particles can transfer between articles of clothing, triggering an attack when they are later worn by the allergy sufferer in the family.

However, based on the findings of a recent study, the process of eliminating allergens from the dirty clothes pile may have just gotten a bit easier. Researchers at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea recently undertook an investigation in which several methods of clothes washing were compared as a means of assessing their effectiveness at removing potentially dangerous allergens.

According to the researchers, one laundry method emerged as the most effective approach to reducing the concentration of allergens in the washing process -- the use of hot water exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When water of this temperature was employed in laundry loads, virtually all dust mites were eliminated, and the intensity of several other common allergens was also reduced significantly.

If you?re an allergy sufferer, keep an eye out for new scientific findings that may offer practical hints to help reduce your exposure to allergens that could trigger an attack. Check back each week for more of the breaking science news that can change your health for the better!